‘Wonka’ Waltzes To $39 Million Opening, Propelled By Chalamet’s Starring Role

The musical film "Wonka," featuring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role, had an impressive debut at the U.S. and Canadian box office over the weekend, raking in $39 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. This marked a robust start for the Willy Wonka-themed musical, highlighting the magnetic appeal of the young star.

Given the recent challenges faced by musicals in theaters, Warner Bros. opted to downplay the song and dance aspects in the promotional material for "Wonka." Instead, the focus was on Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor who now claims his second No. 1 movie after 2021's "Dune," which opened with $41 million.

While "Dune" was an expansive and star-studded sci-fi venture, "Wonka" heavily relies on Chalamet's charm. With a production cost of around $125 million, the film, directed by Paul King, is a prequel to the 1971 classic "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," depicting Chalamet as a young Wonka attempting to establish a candy store. The ensemble cast includes Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, and Keegan-Michael Key.

Releasing at 4,203 locations, "Wonka" holds the distinction of being the first major Hollywood release following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike. Chalamet, who hosted "Saturday Night Live" shortly after the strike's resolution, played a role in promoting the film and the return to a "magical world where actors can promote their projects," as expressed in his opening monologue.

Warner Bros. Distribution Chief Jeffrey Goldstein emphasized the impact of Chalamet's star power and active promotion post-strike, anticipating "Wonka" to be a preferred choice for families during the holiday season. The film faces competition from Universal Pictures' animated feature "Migration."

Receiving mostly favorable reviews (84% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes) and a positive audience response (an "A-" CinemaScore), "Wonka" is poised to continue its success through the lucrative holiday moviegoing period. Chalamet's appeal is evident among younger audiences, with those under 25 comprising 36% of the viewership. The film also generated $53.6 million in overseas ticket sales.

As the first of Warner Bros.' high-profile holiday releases, "Wonka" will be followed by "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" on Dec. 22 and another musical, "The Color Purple," on Dec. 25.

In a weekend with limited new releases, "Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night," from Christian-theme distributor Angel Studios, debuted with $2.9 million in sales through 2,094 theaters. The sequel "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" retained its second-place position, while Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" dropped to third.

Aside from box office standings, the weekend showcased several award contenders aiming to make an impact following the Golden Globes nominations. Notable releases include Yorgos Lanthimos' "Poor Things," expanding into theaters, Cord Jefferson's "American Fiction," and Jonathan Glazer's "The Zone of Interest."

The provided box office estimates cover the period from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, with final domestic figures expected on Monday. The top 10 movies for the weekend are as follows:

1. "Wonka," $39 million.
2. "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," $5.8 million.
3. "The Boy and the Heron," $5.2 million.
4. "Godzilla Minus One," $4.9 million.
5. "Trolls Band Together," $4 million.
6. "Wish," $3.2 million.
7. "Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night," $2.9 million.
8. "Napoleon," $2.2 million.
9. "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé," $2 million.
10. "Poor Things," $1.3 million.